Italian Open:South African Andrew McLardy's hopes of a first European Tour title were given a huge boost today just before he completed a brilliant inward 30 at the Italian Open in Milan.
As the 33-year-old Zimbabwe-born player set the clubhouse target of 130, 14 under par, officials decided to cut the event to 54 holes because the Sunday weather forecast was just too bad to risk going for four rounds.
Nearly nine hours were lost to rain on Friday and there was a further 90-minute delay this morning.
Many of the 156-strong field had still to start their second rounds when the decision was taken.
However, the rather bizarre part of the announcement was that the leaders will not go out in the third round until lunchtime Sunday, just before the likeliest time for the thunderstorms to arrive.
Tournament director Jose Maria Zamora said the decision was taken "due to the uncertain forecast and the primary concern of the Italian Golf Federation that the national open concludes within worldwide television times."
In other words, they want the event to reach its climax live on television, even though there is a risk that no play might be possible then.
McLardy's second successive 65 did not look likely when he stood only seven under after eight holes, but he then birdied six of the next seven holes and added another on the last.
He was two ahead of big-hitting Spaniard Alvaro Quiros — he finished a 67 with a drive and eight-iron to seven feet for eagle on the 513-yard ninth — and Austrian Markus Brier.
As for Swede Joakim Backstrom, who broke the Tolcinasco course record with his 10-under 62 on Thursday, he was only just setting off again for his second round and had been pushed down to fourth place.
Quiros leads the Tour's driving distance statistics this year with an average of 311.2 yards — three less than America's biggest hitter Bubba Watson.
"My arms are like legs," he said, spreading them out like wings. "My swing is high speed, but sometimes it's a great problem. Under pressure it's not easy to control."
Indeed he ranks only 159th out of 191 in driving accuracy, but when it is working well it is a huge advantage, especially on a course as wet as this week's.
Tom Lehman, last year's American Ryder Cup captain, added a 68 to his opening 70 to stand six under, while playing partner Francesco Molinari, who last year became the first home winner since 1980, was eight under.
